The Lead with Jake Tapper

An explosive day in the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial as the star witness, his ex-girlfriend, burst into tears. We look at the final testimony of Cassie Ventura as the case enters a new phase. Plus, an air traffic controller who says two planes almost crashed on his watch earlier this month speaks out on the intense stress of the job and the airport he calls unsafe.  Learn more about your ad choices. V...

The Trump administration did as they said and got the issue of birthright citizenship before the Supreme Court but could the ultimate decision be based on a technicality? Plus, instead of rolling back prices, America’s biggest retailer, Walmart, just announced they are raising them and they are blaming Trump’s tariffs.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20 years ago Syria’s now leader was known as a jihadist captured by United States forces but today he’s all smiles with the world’s most powerful man. This isn’t the only moment on Trump’s Middle East trip where he is flipping foreign relations expectations upside down. Plus, updates in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A look at the serious concerns and efforts to cover up Biden’s cognitive health during his presidency. Plus, President Trump announces a jaw dropping plan to lift sanctions on Syria. Also, the star witness in the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial testifies.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump is en route to Saudi Arabia for both peace and tariff negotiations. He is warning that if there is no long term deal with China worked out tariffs could go significantly higher. Plus, a look at the defense’s strategy as testimony in the Diddy trial begins.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pope Leo XIV wraps up his first day on the job with a message not just to other Catholic leaders but to people around the world. Plus, a judge ordered the immediate release of a doctoral student whose detention by immigration authorities was caught on camera.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Chicago born, Villanova graduate, Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes the first American to become pope after receiving more than two-thirds support of his 132 fellow cardinals. He is now going to be the 267th pope. We examine all the latest details on Pope Leo XIV.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Black smoke up the chimney of the Sistine Chapel as day one of the conclave comes to a close. Surprising details emerge about the frontrunners who could be selected to be the next pope. Plus, the major testing operation happening now in Milwaukee that is screening school-aged kids for possible exposure to lead.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

India says it is launching a military operation inside Pakistan, hitting what India calls terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and the Pakistani region of Kashmir. This comes after a deadly terrorist attack last month on the Indian administered part of Kashmir. We bring you all the latest news from the region.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a new chapter of Trump’s deportation crackdown, the White House now suggests that they will pay undocumented migrants a thousand or two thousand dollars to deport themselves. Plus, President Trump wants to reopen Alcatraz, one of America’s most notorious prisons.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A better than expected jobs report provides perhaps some economic relief. How long can the good news last? Economists are warning that higher prices are coming quick. Plus, CNN is in Mexico as troops hunt down drug cartels.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump ousts his national security adviser after not one but two different Signal scandals. Plus, the financial report from McDonalds that might make you feel sick after an earnings call reveals how much trouble the United States economy might be in. Are we headed for a recession?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As new numbers show the United States economy shrink for the first time in three years, the President now says he is not to be blame at all. Plus, a major Senate vote on Trump’s global tariffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the trade wars hit home, President Trump calls the founder and executive chair of Amazon peeved that the company would consider displaying the cost of tariffs on Amazon’s spinoff cheaper goods, Amazon Haul, website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Crackdowns on illegal immigration and Trump is digging in. We examine how his White House is defending deportations so far. Plus, a new CNN poll shows that most Americans believe that Trump is making the economy worse.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When immigration officials tried to arrest an undocumented immigrant in her courtroom, Judge Hannah Dugan allegedly tried to help him leave the building marking an escalation in the battle between the Trump administration and the judiciary. Plus, President Trump and Melania Trump land in Rome ahead of the funeral for Pope Francis.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic...

Russia is dropping its deadliest bombs in months on Ukrainian civilians as Trump insists he is putting pressure on Russia to end the war. 12 people were killed and 90 were wounded in the capitol of Kyiv overnight. Plus, major questions about Trump’s trade war with China and what is really going on.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The word from the White House today is that there is opportunity for a big deal as Trump and his treasury secretary signaled potentially backing off of the stunning 145% tariffs on China. Plus, a look at the White House peace plan presented to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The White House is firmly backing defense secretary Pete Hegseth at least publicly even after admitting to sharing sensitive military information in a group chat with his wife, brother, and personal attorney. Plus, behind closed doors the president’s treasury secretary says the United States' trade war with China is unsustainable.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic...

New details from the Vatican about the pope and the special request he made before he died. We look back on some of the defining marks the pope left on some of the issues of our time. Plus, defense secretary Pete Hegseth used another Signal group chat to share military strike plans. This time on the chat were his wife, his lawyer, and his brother.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch...

We are learning new details about the condition of the undocumented migrant deported in error to El Salvador from the Democratic senator from Maryland who sat down with him face to face. Plus, reports reveal a clash between two of Trump’s money men, Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two individuals were killed and six were hospitalized after a mass shooting in Tallahassee, Florida at Florida State University. Officers shot the suspected gunman, who is now hospitalized. Our experts join to react with the latest.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Pentagon source has described a purge at the Pentagon after a third Pentagon employee has been placed on administrative leave in the past 24 hours. Plus, a federal judge is threatening to hold the Trump administration in contempt of court over recent deportations.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A look at President Trump’s new threat to Harvard University and the White House’s demand for an apology. Plus, in his first television interview, a government whistleblower sounds the alarm about why he believes DOGE has taken sensitive data from his agency.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite admitting their own mistake and an order from the Supreme Court, the Trump administration says it will not bring back a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador. Plus, with students and teachers facing unsafe lead levels in public schools, the city of Milwaukee asked the Trump administration for help. We examine why they said no.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...